comment

HARRISON, N.Y. -- A Commercial Art student at BOCES who lives with autism has been awarded the "Overcoming the Odds" Award for his ability to work through adversity.

Jason Zanabria, a junior at Port Chester High School, received the award along with three other honorees during a May 15 dinner at the Willow Ridge Country Club, according to a statement from the school district.

Student Advocacy, the group offering the awards, recognizes several students each year after considering teens from across the region, according to the statement.

Among the reasons Zanabria was selected for the honor were his academic achievements.

The junior has taken a full Regents course load at Port Chester High School, where he had never received below an 82 in any of the major subject areas, according to the school district.

School district officials said that despite receiving an autism diagnosis at an early age, Zanabria has not let the condition define him.

"He has grown from his first day of high school into a confident, successful young man," the district's statement said, adding that winners of the award receive scholarships for post-high school studies.

Stacy Wolff, Zanabria's school counselor, nominated the teen for the award and said she was proud to witness him receive the honor.

"It was an amazing evening to watch a deserving young man be recognized," she said.